Dispenser for powdered or granulated materials



Sept. 3, 1929, E, E WQLFE DISPENSER FOR POWDERED OR GRANULATED MATERIALS Filed Aug. 9, 1 92? INVEIVTOR. @WEMZ/4 C 5 7 6 ATTORNEYS,

\ fig/ Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST E. WOLFE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO HARRISON O. JOSEPH, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

msrnnsnnroa IPQWDERED 0R GRANULA'IED'MATERIALS.

This invention relates in general to dispensers, and more particularly to a form of device adapted to dispense powdered or granulated material such as soap, coffee, or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved type of dispenser embodying a transparent receptacle and a dispensing mechanism attached together against unauthorized separation, and capable of manual operation for uniformly dispensing predetermined quantities of material at each operation.

A particular object is to provide a dispenser arranged for dispensing soap in public lavatories and provided with means whereby the same may be irremovably attached to a wall, and'additional means whereby no more than normal quantities of the soap may be obtained in a given operation.

Other objectsmay appear in the description hereinafter following.

I have shown a preferred form of device in the accompanying drawing, subject to modification within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In said drawings the device shown is particularly adapted for dispensing soap in the form of powder, but it will be understood that the same mechanism in an identical or slightly modified form may be employed for other uses with equal success.

In said. drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of my improved dispensing mechanism attached to a wall for use.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the dispensing mechanism dis-assembled for the purpose of illustrating the relationship of the several parts thereof.

Fig. 3 is a central transverse section of the dispensing mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the bottom of a transparent receptacle for hold ing the material to be dispensed.

Briefly described, my improvements include a receptacle R, preferably of glass, a body B preferably formed of metal and so arranged that it may be die-cast. The body B has a shallow cylindrical portion 6 provided with a flanged portion 6 above and adapted to receive a reduced portion 7* formed on the bottom of the receptacle R.

Intermediate the portions b and b of the body B, I provide an annular shoulder 1, on

Application filed August 9, 1927. Serial No. 211,716.

which the lower end of the receptacle R is adapted to rest. The portion b of the body is provided with a plurality of internal lugs 2, 2, etc., which have inclined lower edges, and the portion 1' of the receptacle R is provided with a plurality of reversely formed lugs'3, 3, etc., having inclined upper edges.

Thus, the receptacle B may be placed within the portion 6 of the body with the lugs 3 thereon staggered with respect to the lugs 2 on the body, and when the receptacle It is turned the lugs 3 thereon will frictionally engage the lugs 2 and tightly clamp the receptacle in position on the body.

The receptacle may be sealed in the body by filling the portion 6 around the periphery of the portion r, with sealing wax, plaster of Paris or other material which when set will firmly lock the receptacle in the body against unauthorized or accidental removal.

The upper end of the receptacle R is provided with a filler cap 1* which may be thread ed onto a reduced portion of the receptacle, as shown or otherwise removably attached to the receptacle.

The mechanism is arranged to be supporte on a wall as at W, by means of a base B which is transversely extended from and is integrally formed on the body B. Said base has a plurality of counter-sunk holes 4, adapted to receive screws or bolts 5, which may be screwed to the wall W or portions thereof. The heads 6 of the screws are preferably so formed that the screws may be turned in only one direction for screwing the same into the wall. This is a; common expedient and not material to my invention, but it is highly desirable to employ some means of irremovably securing the base B to the wall so that the dispensers may not be bodily removed by unauthorized persons.

The body B has a cylindrical barrel C which is disposed at right angles to the base portion B which is adapted to rotatably receive a dispensing element'D which is provided with a plurality of peripheral pockets 0?, d, etc., formed between radiating ribs orfins (2, cl, etc. As shown in Fig. 3, one of the pockets (1 is always positioned normally in registration with an outlet 0 in the bottom of the body B.

The dispensing barrel C is provided at the front with an angular discharge spout E which extends downwardly from an opening 6 in the barrel. Internallyof the body B as shown in Fig. 3, I provide a spring F which has one end thereof fixed in a lug 7 formed internally of the body and provided at 8 with a bend or crimp which seats in a correspondingly formed groove in the lug 7 for preventing the spring F from turning when the outer end of said lug has been burred or formed over the portion f of the spring by suitable means.

Said spring is provided intermediately of its ends witha loop 9, and is thence bent downwardly to provide a detent 10 adapted to seat in the successive recesses or pockets (Z in the dispenser D. The spring is bent upwardly from the detent portion 10 at 11, and is thence formed into an elongated loop 12 which extends across the body B in parallelism with the recesses (L; The tension of said spring serves to center the recesses d of the dispenser D with the outlet 0 of the body.

When the dispenser is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 3, the portions 10 and 12 of the spring Will'be elevated, thus serving to agitate the powdered material within the body and prevent the backing thereof against ready removal.

The dispenser D has a trunnion 13 formed on one end thereof and adapted to engage a bore 14 in the end 15.0f the barrel C. It will be noted at this point, that the end 15 is formed integral with the body, while the opposite end of the barrel is provided with an opening 16 conforming in size to the inne diameter of the barrel.

When the dispenser D is properly positioned within the barrel C the opening 16 in the end thereof is adapted to be permanently closed by a member G, which has a flanged portion 9 and a reduced portion g--. formed adjacent to each other on the inner side thereof. Portion g is adapted to fit into the bore of the barrel, while the flange g is adapted to overlie the end of the barrel. I

The member G is attached to the barrel C by means of a pair 'or more of outwardly extending lugs 17, 17, which are formed on the barrel and are adapted to engage correspondingly formed notches 18 in the flange g. When the member G is fitted to the barrel 0 the outer ends of the lugs 17 are bent downwardly over the outer face of the flange g and in the notches 18, so as to permanently hold the member G in position.

Member D is provided with a trunnion 19 on its outer end adaptedto be rotatably held in a central bore 20 in the member G, and to receive and loosely hold thereon externally of the flange g, a ratchet sector H. The trunnion 19 has a squared extension 21 at its end which is adapted to receive a ratchet or clutch member H, as shown in Fig. 2, said member H having a squarehole 22 centrally formed therein in engagement with the portion 21 of the trunnion 19. 4

Vhen the member H is positioned on the portion 21, the end of said portion 21 may be the inner end thereof and adapted to engage and rotate the sector h of the ratchet member H when the operating member A is moved inwardly.

In this connection it will be observed that the member G is provided with an outer extension 25 having a recess 26 adapted to receive and enclose the member H, and the reccss 2 1 ofthe portion G communicates with 1 the recess 26 for the purpose of permitting the engagement of the rack a. with the sector It.

The operating member A is normally held outwardly by means of the spring 27 which is confined in the recess 24 between the rear end of the portion G and the rear end of the rack a. Said rack is of substantially the same i cross section as the recess 24, while the stem a is of snfaller cross section, and the outer end of the portion G is provided with an extension A which is adapted to be bent downwardly over the pen end of the recess 24 when the operating member is positioned in the portion G for limiting the outward movement of the operating member. Thus the operationof the member A is effected against the tension of said spring 27.v

The member H is 'slidable to a slight extent onthe portion 19 of member D, and a spring 28 is held in tension on said portion 19 between the bottom of recess 26 and the rear side of member H, for normally urging said member H outwardly. o f

The members H and H are provided with correspondingly formed teeth 29 and 30 which are adapted to mesh, for the'purpose of rotating the member D when the operating member A is actuated. Said teeth are so formed, however, that the member D can be rotated in but one direction.

The operation of the device is as follows.

When the receptacle R is wholly or partially filledwith a suitable powder to be dispensed, and the device is attached to a wall, as at W, by means shown or otherwise, the movement of the operating member A rearwardly against the tensionof spring 27 will serve to of said member H will efi ect a corresponding movement of the members H and D.

It will be understood that during the 0 eration just described, the tension of t e spring 28 serves to hold the members H and H in engagement. When the member A is released, however, the tension of the spring 27 will serve to restore the rack a, stem a and operating button A to normal position outwardly of the portion G. In such event the member H will be operated in a'reverse direction, but the form of the ratchet teeth thereon will not effect the reverse movement of the member H. Member H moves longitudinally on the portion 19 during the reverse movement thereof, so that the teeth 29 ma move over the faces of the teeth 30.

s seen in Fig. 3, during the continued operation of the mechanism the recess (1. in the dispenser D, which is immediately above the outlet 6, and the corresponding recess in which the portion 10 of the spring-F is seated, will be filled with the powder to be dispensed at all times. The movement of the member D in the form of device shown is such as to only bring successive pockets (1 into registration with the outlete, or one-fifth of a revolution at each-operation. A

The spring F is sufiiciently flexible to permit the yieldin thereof during the operation of the member and it is desirable to move said spring sufliciently so as to thoroughly agitate the material within the receptacle R.- and the body B. The tension of spring F is substantially greater than that of the spring 28, so that when the operating member A is being restored to normal position after a dispensing operatiomthe portion 10 of spring F will prevent the reverse move ment of the member D, while the reverse movement of the member H will be permitted against the tension of spring 28.

It will be observed that the structure shown and described includes means for permanently enclosing and attaching the operating parts together'in such a manner that they may not be tampered with or disassembled, except by destroying the usefulness of the mechanism.

The mechanism herein shown and described is especially adapted for dispensing soap in public wash-rooms, and the arrangement of the several parts is such that the devices may not be bodily removed by unauthorized persons or the contents of the receptacles stolen or used in unnecessary quantitie's. I

- The devices may be made in various sizes and for various purposes, as it will be obvious that when such a device is used for dispensing cofi'ee, the pockets dof the dispenser will be necessarily larger than for dispensing soap or other materials which are necessarily used in smaller quantities.

What I claim is:

1. A dispenser for dry materials comprising a body having an outlet, means on the body for holding a quantity of material to be dispensed, a rotatable dispensing element mounted below. and normally closing said outlet, a discharge spout formed on the body and spaced from said outlet, a resilient agitator mounted in said body and engaging successive portions of and for preventing the rotation of said element in a given direction,

and an operating member operably connected with and adapted torotate said dispensing element in an opposite direction at each operation thereof, for moving uniform quantities of the material from said outlet to and for discharging the same from said spout.

2. A dispenser for dry materials comprising a body having an outlet, means on the body for holding a quantity of material to be dispensed, a rotatable dispensing element v mounted below and normally closing said outlet, a discharge spout formed on the body and spaced from said outlet, a spring fixed at one end to said body and adapted to engage and prevent the rotation of said element in a given direction, an operating member operably connected with and adapted to rotate said dispensing element in an opposite direction at each operation thereof, for moving uniform quantities of the material from said outlet to and for discharging the same from said spout, spring actuated clutch means connecting said operating member with said dispensing element for permitting the restoration of said operating member without moving said element, and means supported in the body above said outlet for agitating the material at each operation of said dispensing element.

3. A dispenser for dry materials comprising a body having a holder, a receptacle irremovably supported on said holder and adapted to contain a quantity of material to be dispensed, said body provided with an outlet below the holder, and a barrel in communication with said outlet, a dispensing element" rotatably mounted in said barrel and provided with a plurality of peripheral pockets, a resilient agitator engaging and for normally holding said dispensing element against movement in a given direction, said pockets being arranged to successively move below and for closing said outlet, a discharge spout formed on the body and spaced from said outlet, and means for rotating said dispensing element in an opposite direction for moving the contents of said pockets successively to and for discharging the same through said spout.

4. A dispenser for dry materials comprising a body, a receptacle mounted on said body for holding a quantity of material to be dispensed, a rotatable dispensing element mountnormally closed by said dispensing element,

means forrotating said dispensing element in a given direction for dispensing uniform quantities of the material in successive operations, and a spring element mounted on said body and within said receptacle, having a portion adapted to engage the pockets of said dispensing element successively for preventing the rotation thereof in an opposite direction, and movable during thev operation of said dispensing element for agitating the material in said receptacle. 1

5. A dispenser for dry materials comprising'a receptacle for the materials, a body for supporting said receptacle, an intermittently rotatable dispensing element below said receptacle and arranged to dispense uniform quantities of the material in successive opera tions, an operating member for said dispensing element, and a pair of spring actuated members connecting said operating member and said dispensing element for effecting the rotation of the dispensing element when moved in one direction, and preventing the rotation of said dispensing element when moved in an opposite direction.

6. A dispenser comprising a body, a horizontally rotatable dispensing element mountedin the lower portion thereof, said body having an outlet above and normally closed by said dispensing element, and a discharge spout therebelow, a reciprocable operating member, a driven member operatively connected with said body, a driving member operatively c'onnected with said operating member and with said driven member, and yieldable means for normally engaging said driving and driven members for rotating the dispensing element in a given direction for dispensing materials and permitting the movement of he driving member relative to the driven member when the operating member is reversely moved.

7. A dispenser comprising a body, a hori- 'zontallyrotatable dispensing element mounted in the lower portion thereof, said body having an outlet above and normally closed by said dis ensing element, and a discharge spout there elow, a 'reciprocable operating member, adriven member operatively connected with said body, a driving member operatively connected with said operating member and with said driven member, and yieldable meansffor normally engaging said drivmg and driven members for rotating the disensin element in a iven direction for'dis- P n pensing materials and permitting the movement of the driving member relative to the driven member when the operating member is reversely moved, and yieldable means mounted on said body and adapted to engage successive portions of the dispensing element for preventing the reverse movement thereof when the operating member is restored to normal position.

8. A dispenser for dry materials comprlsber mounted on said closure and including a rack, a driving member loosely mounted on said dispensing element and having teeth engaging said rack and a clutch face, a driven element fixed for rotation with said dispcns ing element and having a clutch face yieldably engaging the clutch face of said driving element, means for yieldably holding said driving and driven elements in operative relation, and means for normally holding said operating member in extended position and permitting the retraction thereof in a dispensing operation.

9. A dispenser for dry materials comprising a body having a cylinder with," outlets arranged at opposite points on the periphery thereof, a dispensing element rotatably mounted in said cylinder and provided with a plurality of pockets adapted for successive registration with said outlets, a closure for said cylinder, a reciprocable operating member mounted on said closure and including a rack, a driving member loosely mounted on said dispensing elementand having teeth engaging said rack and a clutch face, a driven element fixed for rotation with said dispensing element and having a clutch face yieldably engaging the clutch face of said driving element, means for yieldably holding said driving and driven elements in operative relation, and means for normally holding said operating member in extended position and permitting the retraction thereof in a dispensing operation, and means for preventing a reverse rotation of said dispensing element when said Operating member is restored to normal position.

10. A dispenser for dry materials comprising a body having a cylinder with outlets arranged at opposite points on the periphery thereof, a dispensing element rotatably mounted in said cylinder and provided with a plurality of pockets adapted for successive registration with said outlets, a closure for said cylinder, a reciprocable operating member mounted on said'closure and including a rack, a driving member loosely mounted on said dispensing element and having teeth engaging said rack and a clutch face, a. driven element fixed for rotation with said dispensing element and having a clutch face yieldably engaging the clutch face of said driving element, means for yieldably holding said driving and driven elements in operative relation, and means for normally holding said operating member in extended position and permitting the retraction thereof in a dispensing operation, and a yieldable agitator thereof arranged for successive engagement with the pockets on and for preventing a reverse rotation of said dispensing element.

11; A dispenser for dry materials comprising a body, a receptacle mounted on the body,

a rotatable dispensing element mounted on the body below the receptacle and provided with a peripheral pocket, the body having an outlet normally closed by the dispensing element, means for rotating the dispensing element for dispensing uniform quantities of the material in successive operations, and a spring elementmounted on the body and Within the receptacle and having a portion adapted to engage the rotatable element for normally holding the rotatable element sta tionary and for'agitating the material in the a receptacle when the dispensing element is 1'0- 

